Collapsible tube



Patented Mar. 1'5, 1927.

- 1,621,097 OFFICE.

SALVATORE lZAMMATARO, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE.

Application led October 8, 1925. Serial No. 61,176.

. This invention relates to-containers for viscous or fluid materials, and 1s partlcularly welladapted for shaving creams and similar substances.

Its object is to provide a tube wherein, when pressure is applied thereto, the stopper is automatically removed from the discharge outlet and a quantity of the contents is expelled, dependent upon the length of time the pressure is applied, and upon the removalot' such pressure the stop er automatically resumes its normal position, closing the discharge outlet and preventing further' removal of the contents until pressure is again applied.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 11ofFig.1;

Fig. 3`is a longitudinal section in a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectionl on the line 4`4 of F ig. 5 showing another modication;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the modification Shown in Fig. 4; and v Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of still another modification.

Referring to Fig. 2, the body 10 of the tube terminates at its upper end in a constricted head ing which is closed by a plunger 12. This` plunger is slidably mounted on an annular.

13, together with which'it in which is housed spring is normally ression sufficient to socket portion confines an air chamber a coiled spring 14... This under an initial comp force the plunger against the edges 'of the discharge o emng. While the aperture is shown circu ar in form, it is obvious that it may be of any desired shape. The socket 13 1s carried by a support 16 integral with, and which extends transversely of, the tube, and as shown most ,clearly in Fig. 1, this support is provided with aseries of holes 15 for the passage of the contents from the body of the tube to the chamber formed between the support 16 and the top of the tube. lVhen pressure is tion of the tube, it 1s transmitted through the contents equally in all directions with aresultant force actin on the phmger 12 to further compress tlgie coiled spring 14. The plunger in moving downwardly opens the aperture and thepaste is expelled from the tube and onto thel article with which it is to be used, for example, a tooth brush.

and closed, the amount of 11 having a discharge open- 1 applied to the body por- 'lhe paste will flow out of the tube only as long as pressure is applied, and when pres-A sure is released the plunger 12 will be restored to its seat by the coiled springr l-l. Thus, the aperture is automatically opened being controlled by the pressure applied to the tube, the lunger automatically opening and closing tlie aperture in the tube, thus obviating the use of' screw caps.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, instead of the plunger sliding on a in Figs. 1 and 2, the lower rim plunger 18 has attached thereto one end of a flexible tubular member 19, the other end of said member being anchored to the transverse perforated support. vIn this construc-- tion, the friction between the plunger 12 and the annular member 13 of Fig, 2 is avoided. This construction also prevents any possibility of the contents entering the air chamber containing the spring. In this construction the coiled spring 21 acts similarly to the coiled spring 140il Fig. 2, but instead of the plunger riding on the annular member 13 as it is depressed, the tubular flexible mempaste expelled socket as. 17 of the ber 19 collapses against the Icompression of spring 21 as pressure is applied to the tube,

and when pressure is removed the spring reseats the plunger and extends the member In the modification shown in 5, the upper end of the tube 22 is made of corrugated springy material which takes the place ofthe coiled spring of Figs. 2 and 3.. In this modification the stopper 25 is not movable but, instead, as pressure is applied to the tube, the contents are forced through the openings 23 in the transverse support 24 and against the parts 22 and 26, stretching the part 22 which thus ermits part 26 to move upwardly under t e pressure of the contents with the result that an outlet for thel contents is provided between the tapered end of the stopper 25 and the aperture `of part 26. When ressure is removed from the tube, the flexible part 22 restores to its normal position, closing the discharge outlet. Referring now to Fig. 6, inthis embodiment of the invention the transverse partition is provided .with a central opening Figs. 4 and' through which the plunger 29 reciprocates..

This plunger is hollow and has anchored thereto a corrugated s ring in the form of a membrane 28, whic outer periphery to the tube wall. ing longitudinally ofl t Extende plunger above the I is anchored at its membrane 28, are slots.

` therein into the upper chamber 30, and

forces the membrane28 and the plunger attached thereto downwardly. The plunger in moving downwardly provides an opening in the top ofY the tube through which the paste is expelled. lVhen the pressure is removed, the spring member 28 in returning to its norma-l position moves the plunger upwardly to close the discharge opening.

While several speciic embodiments have been shown as illustrative of the invention, it is to be 'understood that the invention in its head, a plunger, a transverse partition in said tube, a sprin seated on said partition and engaging said plunger to force the same againstl said opening, said partition ,having perforations near its periphery providing a passage for the contents of the tube, and means carried by said partition and plungerfor preventing access of the tube contents to the under side of said plunger.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed vmy name this 6th day of October, A. D. 1925.

SALVATORE J. ZAMMATARO. 

